Automotive head lamp bulb shield

Abstract

A head lamp for a motor vehicle is disclosed with a reflector for reflecting light. A light bulb is oriented within the head lamp and spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp. A bulb shield is provided with a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp. In one embodiment, the peripheral region is a polygon that is not radially symmetrical. In another embodiment, the bulb shield has a rear opening and a front opening for minimizing heat within the bulb shield. In yet another embodiment, the bulb shield has a front opening and the light bulb front portion is coated with an opaque material for blocking glare light.

1. A head lamp for a motor vehicle comprising:
 a reflector for reflecting light: 
 a light bulb oriented within the head lamp spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp; 
 a bulb shield having a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp, wherein the peripheral region is a polygon that is not radially symmetrical; and 
 a bracket mounted to the reflector for extending the bulb shield about the light bulb at an orientation that is spaced apart from the reflector. 
 
     
     
       2. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a parallelogram. 
     
     
       3. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a parallelogram with rounded corners. 
     
     
       4. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a general parallelogram with sides that collectively diverge towards the reflector. 
     
     
       5. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a quadrilateral. 
     
     
       6. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a rhomboid. 
     
     
       7. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein a surface of the bulb shield that faces the light bulb is coated with a non-reflective material. 
     
     
       8. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield has a rear opening provided therein for permitting light to exit the bulb shield. 
     
     
       9. The head lamp of  claim 1  further comprising a housing adapted to be affixed to a motor vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the reflector is generally parabolic. 
     
     
       11. The head lamp of  claim 1  further comprising a louvre oriented within the head lamp. 
     
     
       12. The head lamp of  claim 1  wherein the bulb shield has a forward opening provided therein for minimizing heat within the bulb shield. 
     
     
       13. The head lamp of  claim 12  wherein a forward portion of the light bulb is coated with an opaque material for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp. 
     
     
       14. The head lamp of  claim 1  further comprising a generally transparent lens mounted to the reflector, the lens having an exit region for permitting light to exit the head lamp. 
     
     
       15. The head lamp of  claim 14  wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a polygon similar in profile to the exit region for preventing glare light from exiting the exit region. 
     
     
       16. A head lamp for a motor vehicle comprising:
 a reflector for reflecting light; 
 a light bulb oriented within the head lamp spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp; and 
 a bulb shield having a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp, the bulb shield having rear and front openings for minimizing heat therein. 
 
     
     
       17. The head lamp of  claim 16  wherein a forward portion of light bulb is coated with an opaque material for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp. 
     
     
       18. The head lamp of  claim 16  wherein the peripheral region is further defined as a polygon that is not radially symmetrical. 
     
     
       19. A head lamp for a motor vehicle comprising:
 a housing adapted to be affixed to a motor vehicle; 
 a reflector mounted to the housing for reflecting light: 
 a generally transparent lens mounted to the reflector for enclosing the head lamp; 
 a light bulb oriented within the head lamp spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp, a forward portion of light bulb being coated with an opaque material for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp; and 
 a bulb shield having a polygonal peripheral region that is not radially symmetrical, displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp, the bulb shield having a rear opening and a front opening for minimizing heat within the bulb shield. 
 
     
     
       20. A head lamp for a motor vehicle comprising:
 a reflector for reflecting light: 
 a light bulb oriented within the head lamp spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp; 
 a bulb shield having a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp, wherein the peripheral region is a polygon that is not radially symmetrical; and 
 a generally transparent lens mounted to the reflector, the lens having an exit region for permitting light to exit the head lamp; 
 wherein the bulb shield peripheral region is further defined as a polygon similar in profile to the exit region for preventing glare light from exiting the exit region.